Built for Speed
Adolphe Menjou burlesques his silent image as a great lover, playing an older man who marries Joan Marsh -- she's funny as a brainless piece of fluff who's being used by sister Minna Gombell to gold dig Menjou.
It's directed by Alfred Werker, another of Hollywood's highly competent B directors, whose works satisfied the audience and the front office with their efficiency, but who rarely got a chance at an A production. His two best remembered works are THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (1939), rushed into production after the success of THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, and HE WALKED BY NIGHT (1948). He was the sort of director who could be parachuted into place when another director couldn't complete the project, and that was more than good enough for a good, long career.
The only problem with this film is the speed. At 67 minutes, this one moves too fast for the cast to deal with the funny lines and gags. It's a fine movie, but its haste stops it from being a great one.
It's directed by Alfred Werker, another of Hollywood's highly competent B directors, whose works satisfied the audience and the front office with their efficiency, but who rarely got a chance at an A production. His two best remembered works are THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (1939), rushed into production after the success of THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, and HE WALKED BY NIGHT (1948). He was the sort of director who could be parachuted into place when another director couldn't complete the project, and that was more than good enough for a good, long career.
The only problem with this film is the speed. At 67 minutes, this one moves too fast for the cast to deal with the funny lines and gags. It's a fine movie, but its haste stops it from being a great one.
- boblipton
- 5. Nov. 2016